U.S. patent application number 13/473505 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-15 for injection member assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shanghai Kohler Electronics, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Qifeng Kuang.
Application Number | 20120284912 13/473505 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43997216 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120284912 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuang; Qifeng |
November 15, 2012 |
INJECTION MEMBER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An injection member assembly (30) for a bidet includes a movable
injection member (40) and a bracket (82) provided with a guiding
surface (84) and a driving assembly (60). The driving assembly (60)
includes a driving device (62) and a coupling member (64) coupled
with the guiding surface (84), and the movable injection member
(40) is connected to at least one of the driving assembly (60) and
the bracket (82).
Inventors: |
Kuang; Qifeng; (Shanghai,
CN) |
Assignee: |
Shanghai Kohler Electronics,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
43997216 |
Appl. No.: |
13/473505 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/CN2010/078803 |
Nov 16, 2010 |
|
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13473505 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/443 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 9/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/443 |
International
Class: |
A61H 35/00 20060101
A61H035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 17, 2009 |
CN |
200911000217.8 |
Claims
1. An injection member assembly for a bidet, comprising: a movable
injection member; a bracket provided with a guiding surface; and a
driving assembly, including a driving device and a coupling member,
wherein said coupling member is coupled with said guiding surface;
and wherein said movable injection member is connected to at least
one of said driving assembly and said bracket.
2. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said injection member is fixedly connected to said driving
assembly.
3. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said injection member is fixedly connected to said bracket.
4. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said driving device includes a motor.
5. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said driving device includes an actuator.
6. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said driving device includes a manual operation drive.
7. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said coupling member is a gear.
8. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said coupling member is a pin.
9. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said guiding surface is in arch form.
10. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said guiding surface is in dentiform.
11. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said guiding surface is an incurved gear bar.
12. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said guiding surface is an incurved slot.
13. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said guiding surface is basically rigid.
14. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
the bidet is fixedly connected to at least one of said driving
assembly and said bracket.
15. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said movable injection member is in arch form.
16. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said movable injection member is an arcuate bidet wand.
17. The injection member assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein
said movable injection member is an arcuate bidet wand further
including a liquid injection outlet and an air outlet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of International
Application PCT/CN2010/078803, filed Nov. 16, 2010, incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety, which claims priority from
Chinese Application No. 200911000217.8, filed Nov. 17, 2009,
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an injection member
assembly for a bidet or bidet toilet. The injection member assembly
includes an injection member, a driving assembly and a bracket
assembly. Said injection member assembly has the advantage of
maximal stability in operation, allowing the injection member to
extend out and retract without jittering or slipping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional injection assemblies for bidets can suffer from
jittering or slipping.
[0004] The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,249. Such prior
art relates to a kind of human private parts washing apparatus.
Said washing apparatus is provided with a washing nozzle which can
extend out and retract. A movable rack is formed by a partial
segment of the washing nozzle, a fixed rack formed on the surface
of the nozzle supporter, and a pinion meshing with the movable rack
and the fixed rack. The pinion meshing with the fixed rack is
driven to rotate by a motor, enabling the washing nozzle to move.
Another scheme is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,782,562, which
relates to a toilet seat with a washing machine which is provided
with a movable injection pipe. In this patent, a drive rack
positioned on an injection arm engages with a secondary pinion and
a drive rack positioned on an operation device engages with a
primary pinion. An interlocking mechanism connects a counter
rotation pinion and the secondary pinion while the counter rotation
pinion meshes with the primary pinion. This patent discloses a
means of manually pushing or pulling the operation device to cause
the pinion to rotate, resulting in the extension and retraction of
the injection pipe.
[0005] Another body washing unit for a flush toilet is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,459, wherein a first tube is rotatably
connected with a second tube which is further rotatably connected
with a third tube. A driving device rotates the second tube to
displace the third tube angularly around the axis of the second
tube. A converter converts rotational motion of the second tube
into rotational motion of the third tube around its axis so that
the nozzle arranged on the third tube moves between a standby
position and a usage position. This patent describes the automatic
operation of the nozzle after a user switches on the equipment.
[0006] Other prior art examples include: 1). WIPO Patent
Application No.WO/2006/079232, wherein a shower arm for a shower
toilet is disclosed. Said shower arm is socketed to a guide tube
and can protrude out from such guide tube. Said tube is further
socketed to a guide bush and can extend out from such guide bush. A
flexible tape is connected with the shower arm. When a pinion is
driven by a motor, the flexible tape, meshing with the pinion
through such tape's dentate surface, starts moving. This movement
leads to the extension and retraction of said shower arm and said
tube. 2). Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-125193, wherein a
washing toilet seat with a drying function is disclosed. In this
example, a drive mechanism partially meshes with the surface of the
bent drying nozzle, which is moved between its housed position and
the position where the reciprocating movement is operated.
Pressurized air generated in such movement is injected to the
user's intended body part.
[0007] The present method aims to solve the problems of the prior
art and to provide unprecedented improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with one embodiment or aspect of the present
invention, an injection member assembly is provided. The injection
member assembly includes an injection member, a driving assembly
and a bracket assembly. The injection member is capable of
extending and retracting. For example, the bended bidet wand in the
retracted position is housed and extends into the bidet bowl area,
so as to spray liquid and (or) air onto the user's body.
[0009] In accordance with another embodiment or aspect of the
present invention, the injection member is connected to at least
one of the driving assembly and the bracket assembly. When the
injection member extends or retracts, the injection member moves
along with the driving assembly and/or the bracket assembly. In an
embodiment where the driving assembly or the bracket assembly is
immovably fixed, a more compact and durable assembly can be
obtained.
[0010] In accordance with another embodiment or aspect of the
present invention, the driving assembly is coupled with the
incurved inner surface of the bracket assembly. The size and shape
of the bracket assembly are designed to be able to house the
injection member in the retracted position. The driving assembly is
coupled with the incurved inner surface of the bracket assembly.
This minimizes the slipping and jittering of the driving assembly,
allowing the injection member assembly to slide smoothly.
[0011] The objective in at least one of the embodiments of such
invention is to provide an injection assembly including a movable
injection member, a bracket provided with a guiding surface, and a
driving assembly further including a driving device and a coupling
member, wherein said coupling member is coupled with the guiding
surface and the movable injection member is connected to at least
one of the driving assembly and the bracket.
[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the injection
member is fixedly connected with the driving assembly. In other
embodiments of the present invention, the injection member is
fixedly connected with the bracket. In yet other embodiments, the
type of driving device can vary in terms of different situations,
taking the form of an electric motor, an actuator or a manual
operation drive.
[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the coupling
member is a pinion. In other embodiments of the present invention,
the coupling member is a pin. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the guiding surface is in arcuate (i.e., curved) form.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the guiding surface
is in a tooth form. In some embodiments of the present invention,
the guiding surface is an incurved rack. In other embodiments of
the present invention, the guiding surface is an incurved slot. The
guiding surface may be substantially rigid.
[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bidet is
fixedly connected to at least one of the driving assembly and the
bracket. The injection member is characterized with an arch form.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the injection member
is an arcuate (i.e., curved) bidet wand, which may include a liquid
injection outlet and an air outlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the bidet
in the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the bidet as
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the injection member
assembly, which is illustrated with an injection member in an
extended position;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the injection member assembly as
illustrated in FIG. 3; such injection member assembly is
illustrated with the injection member in a refracted position;
[0019] FIG. 5 is an upward (i.e., looking up from below) view of
the injection member assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3; such
injection member assembly is illustrated with an injection member
in a partially extended position;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the bidet provided
with the injection member assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3 with
fully extended position;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the bidet provided
with the injection member assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3 with
fully retracted position;
[0022] FIG. 8 describes another embodiment of the injection member
assembly; and
[0023] FIG. 9 describes another embodiment of the injection member
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a bidet 20. FIGS.
3-5 illustrate an embodiment of an injection member assembly 30.
The injection member assembly 30 includes an injection member 40, a
driving assembly 60 and a bracket assembly 80. The injection member
40 installed in the injection member assembly 30 can extend and
retract. For example, the injection member 40 can extend out when
the bidet 20 is used and retract into a retracted position for
storage when unneeded.
[0025] In the embodiment illustrated, the injection member 40
includes two independent openings, a liquid outlet 42 and an air
outlet 44. Optionally, the injection member 40 can be provided with
only a single liquid outlet or a single air outlet. In other
embodiments, the liquid outlet and the air outlet may share the
same opening. The liquid outlet 42 is used for spraying liquid. For
instance, clean water sprays out of the liquid outlet 42 onto
certain parts of a user body (not displayed) in or on the bidet 20.
The air outlet 44 provides gas (e.g., air) flow. Warm flowing air
may jet from the air outlet 44 onto certain parts of a user body in
the bidet 20. In the embodiments illustrated here, the injection
member 40 is fixedly connected to the driving assembly 60.
Optionally, the injection member 40 can also be fixedly connected
to the bracket assembly 80. In accordance with different needs, the
injection member 40 can take different sizes and shapes. For
example, the injection member can be in arcuate form (i.e., curved)
or straight form. In the illustrated embodiments, the injection
member 40 is arcuate (i.e., curved) protruding upwardly seen from
longitudinal view, allowing a more compact bidet shell.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the driving assembly 60 includes a
driving device 62 and a coupling member 64. The driving device 62
used for moving the injection member 40 can be any type of drive
(e.g., that conforms to relevant industrial standards), such as a
motor, an actuator or a manual operation drive like a crank, a
lever or a free handle. The driving device 62 as illustrated in the
embodiment of FIG. 3 is a motor. The coupling member 64 coupled
with the bracket assembly 80 can be in the form of a gear, an axle
or a pin. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, the coupling
member 64 is a gear assembly, including a base gear 66 and a
coupling gear 68. The driving device 62 further includes a driving
gear 70, which is coupled with the base gear 66, and the coupling
gear 68 is coupled with the bracket assembly 80. Optionally, the
coupling member 64 can be the driving gear 70, wherein the bracket
assembly 80 is coupled with said driving gear 70. In the embodiment
as illustrated in FIG. 3, the driving device 62 and the coupling
member 64 are positioned on the driving bracket 72. The mounting
bracket 74 connects the driving assembly 60 to the injection member
40. In addition, the driving assembly 60 can also be connected to
the injection member 40 through the shell, hull or the driving
bracket 72.
[0027] The bracket assembly 80 includes a bracket 82 and a guiding
surface 84 (e.g., as labeled in FIGS. 5-7). The bracket assembly 80
can be fixedly connected to another bracket or the bidet wall. In
an embodiment where the bracket assembly 80 is attached to the
bidet wall, the bracket assembly 80 is fixedly connected with the
bidet 20. In other embodiments, the bracket assembly 80 can be
movable, and the driving assembly 60 can be fixedly connected with
the bidet 20. The size and shape of the bracket assembly 80 are
structured to be able to at least partially house the injection
member 40 when it is in a fully retracted position, as displayed in
FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the injection member 40 may be
prevented from fully retracting by structuring the size and shape
of the bracket assembly 80, or by fixedly connecting the injection
member 40 to the driving assembly 60 or the bracket assembly 80 in
an appropriate position. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4,
the bracket assembly 80 is provided with a guiding surface 84
coupled (e.g., for movement) with the coupling member 64. In
varying embodiments, the guiding surface 84 can be the whole
surface formed on the bracket 82, provided on bracket parts
connected to the bracket 82, or provided on the pathway of the
bracket 82 such as a slot or a groove. In varying embodiments, the
guiding surface 84 can be dentate or smooth in terms of the shape.
The guiding surface 84 in FIG. 3 (e.g., numbered in FIGS. 5-7) is a
gear bar installed on the bracket 82.
[0028] In the embodiment described in FIG. 3, the driving gear 70
is made to turn by the driving device 62, leading to the rotation
of the base gear 66 in a countervailing direction. The coupling
gear 68 rotates in the same direction as the base gear 66. The
coupling gear 68 is coupled with the dentate surface of the guiding
surface 84, resulting in the movement of the coupling gear 68 along
the guiding surface 84. The incurved segment of the guiding surface
84 contributes to the optimal engagement between the coupling gear
68 and the guiding surface 84, minimizing the jittering and
slipping between the two.
[0029] In order to cause the injection member 40 to extend out from
the retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 7, the driving device
62 can be started by a single signal source (not displayed) such as
a controller, a button or a switch. The driving device 62 causes
the coupling gear 68 to move along the guiding surface 84 towards
the bowl 25 of the bidet 20. Since the driving device 62 is fixedly
connected with the injection member 40, the injection member 40
will move along an arcuate (i.e., curved) path identical to the
shape of the driving assembly 60, and extend out into the bowl 25.
When the injection member 40 is in a fully extended position as
illustrated in FIG. 6, the driving device 62 stops. Optionally, the
driving device 62 can stop at any point of the guiding surface 84,
allowing a plurality of different extended positions of the
injection member 40 in accordance with various needs. When the
driving device 62 is started upon receiving a signal, the injection
member 40 retracts, which causes the driving device 62 and the
coupling gear 68 to rotate in a countervailing direction compared
with the case in which the injection member 40 extends out. The
coupling gear 68 moves along the guiding surface 84, gradually
moving away from the bowl 25, which causes the injection member 40
to retract towards the bracket 82. When the injection member 40 is
in a fully retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 7, the driving
device 62 stops. The driving device 62 can optionally stop at any
point of the guiding surface 84, allowing a plurality of different
refracted positions of the injection member 40 in accordance with
various needs.
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the injection
member assembly 130 (referring to the whole set), which is provided
with an injection member 40 fixedly connected to the driving device
162 through the coupling member 164. The driving device 162 in this
case is an actuator connected to the coupling member 164. The
coupling member 164 is in the form of a pin installed in the
guiding surface 184 which is coupled onto the bracket assembly 180.
The driving device 162 is pivotally connected to a fixed surface
186 such as the bracket or the bidet shell.
[0031] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the injection
member assembly 230, which is provided with an injection member 40
fixedly connected to the driving device 262 through the mounting
bracket 74. The driving device 262 in this case is a manual
operation drive, such as a rotatable handle connected to the
driving gear 270. The driving gear 270 is coupled with the guiding
surface 84 of the bracket assembly 80. The driving device 262 can
be manually rotated in one direction, causing the extension of the
injection member 40, or in a countervailing direction, leading to
the retraction of the injection member 40.
[0032] In some alternative embodiments, the injection member
assembly can be provided with more than one injection member or
driving device.
* * * * *